lapdja - that's great news!  Glad to hear things are going well for your SR.

lapdja - Congratulations!

B'sNukeMoM - thank you for clarifying!  I was thinking I had done something wrong because I have exchanged personal emails with 2 moms on this site.  But we did it after we had communicated a lot on here, and it was clear we were actually Navy moms.  :-)

lapdja - so happy to hear your SR is excelling and doing great! It won't be long now!

found this on the FB page for GL.. haven't tried it yet.

https://www.applocker.navy.mil/#!/apps/A3E45417-7665-4E93-B703-659F6B34C404

lapdja - Awesome news on your SR! It's so great to hear them happy!

jog6, congratulations, safe travels enjoy your time with your Sailor.

lapdja - I am so glad you had a wonderful call!

Congratulations jog6!!!

Good Morning and Happy Friday.  I want to give a big shout out to both my son and DIL who are Veterans.  Thank you for your service!

And I've got my RED on today too!

Be sure to join your PIR group.  Here are the links:

PIR JANUARY 2023

PIR DECEMBER 2022

PIR NOVEMBER 2022

TorpedoMom - Welcome to the BC Mom and Loved One's group!! We are glad to have you aboard. Please don't hesitate to come say hello to everyone. Be sure to look at the discussions above, there are a few that might be of interest to you as you prepare for your SR's upcoming PIR. 

Please join me in also welcoming OnWatch to our group!! We are glad you are here, please come and introduce yourself. 

Be sure to join your PIR group.  Here are the links:

PIR JANUARY 2023

PIR DECEMBER 2022

PIR NOVEMBER 2022

Re: Traveling on orders post PIR 

My son had to take all of his issued gear with him to his first duty station.  So he had sea bag, back pack, garment bag, and laptop bag [we gave him that when we met up after PIR.  Since then, when he travels, he has the sea bag, laptop in his back pack, and another large bag.  He just traveled from overseas to the US and the sea bag as well as the large bag were checked, no cost, since he's traveling on orders.

Just FYI

Got back last night from PIR! What a beautiful ceremony! Here are some details about my experience with PIR:

I used Sarge's Taxi service and Clifton, our driver, was fantastic! We used him for transportation to and from the airport. We had 5 of us so I filled out the form and texted Sarge to make sure we could fit. There were 4 bags so it wasn't an issue.

We stayed at the Springfield Suites which was convenient since the meet and greet was across the street so we could walk

I used Uber to get back and forth to the gate to pick up and drop off my Sailor from the barracks. He had to stay on base and had to be back by 9pm, but it's really 8:30 since it's a 30 min walk (they can't double time) from Gate 8 to the barracks.

Sarge's Meet and Greet starts at 5, but it says food is at 7. That wasn't the case. We arrived about 5:45 and there was a huge line for food. They had plenty though. There were vendors there selling personalized apparel as well as bracelets.

I was lucky that one of my sailor's division mates didn't have anyone coming to PIR so we were able to use his tickets and all 5 of us could attend PIR. My sailor arranged all of that.

Springfield Suites had a free shuttle to and from PIR. I signed up when we checked in. The 6:45am shuttle gave us plenty of time and no waiting in line to get into the gate.

My son bought A LOT of photos and frames and there was a long line at NEX to pick them up. There was another line after that to pay. I waited and got all the photos while my sailor went and got his stuff out of the barracks. We just made the 11:45am shuttle back to the hotel.

I brought some comfortable clothes for him to wear in the hotel room so he could relax. They really don't have room to take a lot to school with them since all the uniforms fill the bag so I took most things home and will ship to him later.

They get phones back after PIR which was a big deal since they had all been separated from their social accounts for so long!

At PIR, there is a sailor standing with the division number so you can sit across from that sign and try to find your sailor so when they call liberty and there is a mad dash to the kids, you kind of know how to get to your sailor. It was still pretty crazy!

I hope this helps and please ask any questions you like!

Happy Monday!

Melissa - thanks for the update.  sounds like you had a great time at PIR!

I just want to mention that it is not recommended to use other SR's tickets for PIR.  RTC normally frowns upon this. I'm glad it worked out ok for you but please note that this is not something that is encouraged - your SR could get in trouble for this.

Be sure to join your PIR group.  Here are the links:

PIR JANUARY 2023

PIR DECEMBER 2022

PIR NOVEMBER 2022

Melissa - I am so glad that you all had a wonderful time!! Be sure to post some of your comments in the PIR Weekend Experiences - Post Covid discussion above, so that down the road others will be able to read about your experiences, especially with Sarge's Meet n Greet & taxi service. 

Regarding getting back to base early, I recall my son telling me that they were not allowed to run in their dress uniforms, so instead he had to do this brisk walk in those dress shoes that hurt his feet!!

Henry's Mom - Thanks!

Be sure to join your PIR group.  Here are the links:

PIR JANUARY 2023

PIR DECEMBER 2022

PIR NOVEMBER 2022

Be sure to join your PIR group.  Here are the links:

PIR JANUARY 2023

PIR DECEMBER 2022

PIR NOVEMBER 2022

Latest update from RTC:

COVID Message Board

* * * The Latest Guidance - Revised Pass-in-Review Policy * * *

Due to a change in COVID-19 status, as of Nov. 10, guests attending the weekly graduation ceremony are no longer required to show proof of vaccination to gain access to Recruit Training Command Great Lakes.

However, with the removal of mask wearing and vaccinations, guests should take whatever precautions they deem appropriate for themselves based on their personal risk factors. Vaccinations and subsequent boosters are still strongly recommended by the CDC. Disposable masks are available at the front desk of the RTC visitors center for guests who may wish to utilize one.

Recruits graduating in the next few weeks are being given the opportunity to phone home to notify their families of this change in policy so they may make changes to their guest access lists over the phone. If your recruit graduates in December or later and you want to change the guest list based on this change, it is recommended you mail a new Guest Security Access Form to your recruit. This form may be found at www.bootcamp.navy.mil under the Graduation tab.

Be sure to RSVP for Sarge's Meet N Greet.  It's held on the Thursday night before PIR.  Here's the link:  

Sarge's Meet N Greet

USPS Informed Delivery - Sign up and receive an email from the US Postal Service showing what mail you will be getting each day (if available in your area).  

Informed Delivery®

Here is my discussion on the Sandboxx App - click on the link:

Sandboxx app while in BC

**Only to be used while in boot camp.

REMINDER FROM THE US NAVY RECRUIT TRAINING COMMAND FACEBOOK PAGE:

Everyone who is planning on attending a graduation ceremony MUST personally obtain a ticket, which will be distributed at the Recruit Family Welcome Center the week of your recruit's graduation. Tickets are free of charge, but you must have valid photo ID to obtain your ticket (driver's license, state ID, military ID, passport, or, for minors, a student ID, driver's permit, SSN card, birth certificate,) AND you MUST also have your COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card.

WELCOME CENTER ADDRESS/GPS: Navy Exchange (NEX) Burkey Mall, 2650 Green Bay Road North Chicago, IL 60088 (Do NOT use generic terms such as NEX, Recruit Training Command or Naval Station Great Lakes).

Good Evening - Please join me in welcoming Heather & Bootcamp0924 to our group. 

Please come say hello here and let us know where you are at in this BC journey. Heather, it would be especially helpful if you did, since we have several members with this username. 

Good evening.  Since there are so many Heathers in the group I changed my name to SantaFeMom.  My son will be heading to bootcamp tomorrow. 

WELCOME SanteFeMom and Bootcamp0924!!  Hope we can help each other along the way!

Welcome, SanteFeMom and Bootcamp0924!  You have come to the perfect place to get support and answers to any questions you have!

SantaFeMom - Thanks for sharing your username update. We are glad you are here. Remind your son to keep his phone charged up. He may call you along his route to GL and then when he lands, if he has time, he may call you before they board the bus. After that, be sure to keep your phone close by and ringer on loud - the SRs (seaman recruits) generally make their scripted "I'm Here" call, and it comes in very late in the evening or early morning. Mine sounded like it was a recorded call, but they are just reading off a script. They can not talk to you, but you may tell them, I love you, over their talking. They will likely be telling you when to possibly be expecting a call from them. 

Also, there has been some change in how the SRs are sending their mailing address. Be sure to scroll back through the last couple of pages here and read the information that B'sNukeMom posted. Especially on the Sandboxx App. And do not hesitate to ask questions. 

Be sure to join your PIR group.  Here are the links:

PIR JANUARY 2023

PIR DECEMBER 2022

PIR NOVEMBER 2022

Final PIR for January added.

SanteFeMom and Bootcamp0924 - Welcome to the BC group! Wishing your SRs the best boot camp experience possible. It's quite a ride.

PER RTC FACEBOOK PAGE....(Regarding Thanksgiving)

Divisions set to graduate 11/23 will have the option to spend Thanksgiving day with their family before being shipped to A school.  They will not transfer until Friday or Saturday of that week.

Sue M. - Welcome to the BC Mom and Loved Ones group. This comment wall area is the best location for coming and saying hello and posting a question or sharing information. 

Welcome Sue M., SantaFe Mom and Bootcamp0924!

Welcome to our newest members SanteFeMom, Bootcamp0924 and Sue M. So very happy to have you join us. Let us know how we can help you through this rollercoaster of emotions!

Rosanne -- Late to the Party but here you go!!
WHOOP
WHOOP
WHOOP
ATTENTION ON DECK!! WE HAVE A SAILOR!!!
Congratulations to Rosanne and her Sailor on a Job well done!!
Enjoy PIR!!{Looks like you get extra time for the holiday!!}

jog6 -- Late to the Party but here you go!!
WHOOP
WHOOP
WHOOP
ATTENTION ON DECK!! WE HAVE A SAILOR!!!
Congratulations to jog6 and her Sailor on a Job well done!!
Enjoy PIR!!{Looks like you get extra time for the holiday!!}

Welcome Beachymom, cheri39, TorpedoMom, Heather (aka: SantaFeMom), Bootcamp0924 and Sue M

JNMnavymomOH --- After all you went through... It's only right that the Navy should have given you a second day!! I'm SO happy for you!!  Your sailor will not have any restrictions on using their cell phones other than the typical... "Not in class, not in certain areas, not on duty...." That ALL sailors have.  Nuke, from my understanding is demanding and that may limit how much he is willing and able to reach out, because he needs to focus on his classes.

Junebugg -- See if he can find an off base postal service. or someone who lives off base that will accept his packages for him.  A school is just temporary so the Navy doesn't assign good addresses!

Tootie -- I don't know the answer but I'm glad your SR is feeling so much better.  I do think they would need to be medically cleared and they don't want to sent them back too soon and have them re-injure themselves.  Yours had stress fractures, right?  Having had one, I do know that the pain stops as soon as you rest it but if you push too soon it can come right back and then it takes even longer to fully heal because you injured the "New" growth and the body treats that as a new fracture. 

Melissa -- Was it as amazing as You'd hoped?  Isn't that first hug just something else!!  I know you were told about the tickets.  Hopefully no one gets in trouble for that.  It is highly frowned upon (as in both sailors can be court marshaled and removed from the Navy for it!  So just be safe!)

MomofJoseph  -- Establishing a friendship here that you choose to take offline is a completely acceptable action, but we have had a handful of scammers over the years.  They are 10000000000000000000% different!  On that note... Rosanne and Jog6 -- If you want to meet IRL be sure to message each other privately and make that plan for before PIR.  After Liberty call... It's just not as likely to happen.

Hi everyone.  Sorry for being AWOL for so long. I should be much more regular here now.

BelovedbyHim - yay, thanks I've been waiting to see that :)

I thought you might.  Sorry for the almost 2 week delay!  Are you just so excited for next week!!!  You get to have ALL of THANKSGIVING to spend with him!! I hope you have made plans for the day already!! (Many places will already be booked up!)  I'm pretty sure I know what you are Thankful for this year! (Oh and he will very Likely be home for 2 weeks at Christmas too!!  They are too new to stand duty watch alone and many of the Senior Staff don't want to baby sit!  Have him start saving now since they don't always know till last minute and we all know that last minute tickets are Pricey especially at Christmas!!)